paraSITE
Today, I went to see the Smart Museum of Art's just-opened exhibition "Beyond Green: Toward a Sustainable Art," which "explores how [sustainable] design philosophy resonates with an emerging generation of international artists who combine a fresh aesthetic sensibility with a constructively critical approach to the production, dissemination, and display of art."
The highlight of the show for me was Michael Rakowitz's paraSITE, which "proposes the appropriation of the exterior ventilation systems on existing architecture as a means for providing temporary shelter for homeless people." While clearly not trying to be aesthetically pleasing, like much of the work in the exhibition, it surely gives the gallery-goer something to think about beyond mere beauty. The dirty and ragged exterior illustrates its potential state were it located on a sidewalk somewhere, and even makes one think that it came to the gallery from one such location.
The plastic structures are easily transportable when deflated. When hooked to a building exhaust vent, the air inflates the double-membrane structure into its habitable shape, while also heating the inside.
I couldn't help but think of the great numbers of homeless in Chicago's subterranean streets (Michigan Avenue, Wacker Drive, Illinois) that have been displaced by the Mayor, who also populates the city with homeless-deterrent benches and the like. On cold days walking to work on Lower Illinois, even I found relief in the brief rush of warm air from the adjacent high rises. But in the last few years, a security guard patrolling those areas means the homeless are out-of-sight, out-of-mind for most pedestrians.
Also, I couldn't help think of Chicago's (and other U.S. cities') near opposite: Tokyo, where homeless "camps" are widespread and tolerated. Blue tarps stretch along parts of the river and in some of the parks. Looking at the inflated paraSITE with plastic windows in the gallery space, the thought of hundreds of inflated shelter around the city didn't seem like such a bad idea.
The highlight of the show for me was Michael Rakowitz's paraSITE, which "proposes the appropriation of the exterior ventilation systems on existing architecture as a means for providing temporary shelter for homeless people." While clearly not trying to be aesthetically pleasing, like much of the work in the exhibition, it surely gives the gallery-goer something to think about beyond mere beauty. The dirty and ragged exterior illustrates its potential state were it located on a sidewalk somewhere, and even makes one think that it came to the gallery from one such location.
The plastic structures are easily transportable when deflated. When hooked to a building exhaust vent, the air inflates the double-membrane structure into its habitable shape, while also heating the inside.
I couldn't help but think of the great numbers of homeless in Chicago's subterranean streets (Michigan Avenue, Wacker Drive, Illinois) that have been displaced by the Mayor, who also populates the city with homeless-deterrent benches and the like. On cold days walking to work on Lower Illinois, even I found relief in the brief rush of warm air from the adjacent high rises. But in the last few years, a security guard patrolling those areas means the homeless are out-of-sight, out-of-mind for most pedestrians.
Also, I couldn't help think of Chicago's (and other U.S. cities') near opposite: Tokyo, where homeless "camps" are widespread and tolerated. Blue tarps stretch along parts of the river and in some of the parks. Looking at the inflated paraSITE with plastic windows in the gallery space, the thought of hundreds of inflated shelter around the city didn't seem like such a bad idea.
That is a clever idea. It reminds me of a show Michael Moore did that proposed we give homeless people a storage unit. Having recently rented a storage unit in LA, I can testify that there are people who live out of their storage units already. The paraSITE concept at least gives them a warm tent to sleep in.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as someone who's been researching camping tents recently, most tents are not easily portable. And well-constructed tents tend to be expensive. I would be curious to know how much these would cost, weigh, and how durable they are.
Referring to the comment above, I think people living in their storage units are very common these days, especially those facilities with climate control which are good to keep the occupants warm during cold weather. However, it is not something legal and should not be encouraged. This type of portable outdoor tents is a good alternative to address this issue but it might cost a little which might not be affordable for the homeless.
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